I always thought it a strange kind of thing. You got married, the years past and there you were at the golden wedding year unless one or more had tragically died or there had been a divorce or separation. I suppose there is a strange sort of skill in not being divorced after 50 years.
So the young reporter (ie me) always asked the same banal question: "To what do you attribute such a long married life?" and the answers were always the same - either
"A happy marriage is all about give and take" or
"We never go to bed on an argument."
I wish I had £5 for every time I have had those given as an answer.
It's a long time since I did a golden or diamond wedding interview and possibly a long time before I will do another one (if ever).
A couple of weeks ago I was in a steam room. Now do you know why a steam room is so called? Yes it's because it is filled with steam. Bit like a sauna but with steam rather than hot coals.
A gentleman came in and sat opposite and we chatted about various things as steam swirled around. At some point my other threequarters came in and sat opposite. But being deaf and not being able to see me because of the steam, she ignored what I tried to say to her which was simply "I'll see you in the coffee lounge." So she got up without any acknowledgement.
My fellow steamroomer thought that my other threequarters was a random lady whom I was trying to "pick-up."
"She doesn't want to know you," he said.
"It's ok I'm married to her and have been for 46 years. Unfortunately she's quite deaf so wouldn't have heard what I said," I replied.
"Oh I thought you were trying to pick her up," he replied.
So much for my suave charm. Mind you it never did work.
Now of course I'm only four years away from my own Golden Wedding. I wonder if a young reporter will pop round and ask that banal question "so what is the secret of a long marriage?
I will answer without a moment's hesitation:
"Give and Take. I give and my other threequarters Takes."
Actually that's no true but I need a little bit of journalistic licence here.